Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-03-31
SET IN DIAMONDS,
BY Charlotte NJ. Rraemo.
CHAPTER VII.
A SUNBEAM.

The Lady Perth, rich In pride, In
family jewels, in titles, but in nothing
else; thin, angular woman, who owed
what little symmetry there was In her
figure entirely to her dress-maker, and
her complexion to her maid; hard, cold,
and proud as woman could be, hating
with her whole heart the fair young
wife whom her brother had brought
home, and determined to do her all the
evil she possibly could.
Lady Perth rose from her seat as her
brother entered the room with Marquee
rite on his arm; her face and her heart
hardening at the sight of that fair love-
illness. Lord Stair held his wife's hand
as he took her forward.
"My sister, Lady PERTH" he said, II
have brought you sister to love-"
Lady Perth gave Marguerite the reg
ulation kiss; she would rather have
bitten the fair face with its dainty
bloom. She murmured something like
greeting, while Lady Stairs heart
grew cold and chill. Alone with her
husband she would have laughed and
talked, she would have looked at all
the beautiful things the room contained 1:
she would have been her own bright.
natural, beautiful SELF
she was mute and miserable. Lord
Stair was disappointed; he could not
imagine what shadow had fallen over
his bright, fair wife. They were a
most uncomfortable trio. Lady Perth
was magniicently dessed; she wore
some fine jewels, and seemed to enjoy
displaying her rings. 1t was great
relief when the dinner-bell rang, but
Lady Stair, when she went to her room,
said to herself that it was the most
wretched evening she had ever spent
In her life. She looked pale and tired.
She was disappointed, too; she had not
expected to find this cold, proud wom-
an in the very heart of her home.
Marguerite felt that she would never
like her. The day after their arrival a
very solemn scene took place, during
which Lady Perth made transfer of
the KEYS.
II have been mistress of Oakclffe for
many years." she said; ''but of course
to my brothers wife give way. IN
less" she continued, with an air of
eager anticipation, sunless you would
like me to retain my Office"
Lord and Lady Stair had discussed
this matter. Marguerite would fain
have been rid of the responsibility alto
gether, but her husband would not have
IL so. 1t wo I'D be better, he thought,
for her to take her place at once. There
must be some little awkwardness let
the change come when it would.
"You are so young and so inexperi-
enced," continued Lady Perth, "that If
1t will be any relief to you, l can keep
on my office"
Lady Stair thanked her. but, remem-
bering her husbands wishes on the
subject, declined and said she would
try TO do the best she could. She could
not hell seeing the hate that cleaned
in those cold, pale eyes.
"Just as you like. 1t will be better
to come to perfect understanding at
once. You wish me, of course, to re-
linquish all authority in the house?''
IL wish nothing of the kind" replied
Lady Stair. decline altogether to be
drawn into anything of the kind. |
have no wish to express on the subject"
Lady Perth looked somewhat sur
prised.
Lord Stair and you had better make
what arrangements you like!"
She took the keys and she took her
place, leaving Lady Perth more in awe
of her spirit and character than she had
been before.
The first week or two of their return
passed and Lady Stair found herself &C.
cupied in learning as it were her new
Notwithstanding acquaintance
with all the country people who has
tened to see her and were charmed with
her-in going over and over again the
whole of the beautiful old house, which
was indeed a palace-in learning the
different rooms, their different uses-in
studying the fine old pictures. "It is
like learning beautiful lesson" she
would say to her husband, with smile.
At the end of three weeks she knew
the grand old place just as though she
had lived in it all her life; her intimate
knowledge of it angered Lady Perth.
She knew by that time most of the
neighbors. Then followed few weeks
of what they called local festivities.
They went everywhere to dine. Lord
Stair groaned over the duty; but it was
an essential one. and he went through
1t bravely. Then came the beautiful sui
try month of August, and with il a
grand calm-there was no more visiting,
and few visitors-a grand calm, during
which Lady Stair had for the first time
since her marriage begun to recognize
her If. And there came to her q terrible
blank. Lord Stair, finding that he was
settled in life-feeling himself unut-
terably happy with his young wife,
returned to those occupations which
his love and his marriage had somewhat
interrupted.
Then to her, strange to say-after all
the novelty, the dazzling excitement of
the first few months other married life
came reaction. She woke from the
glamour of dream to find herself after
fashion desolate. Lord Stair, although
still the most devoted Of husbands,
was no longer the devoted lover, who
hung trembling on every word that
came from her lips. He was most kind,
most indulgent; but he spent great
deal OF time in his library over the
studies and art he loved so much.
Lord Stair had sent an urgent invita-
tion to Cyril Marine, begging him to
come to Oakclifie and spend some time
with his daughter; but the answer was
that he was wholly engrossed in the
writing of an opera that was to make
him famous, and that he would come
when it was finished.
There was no resource for her. and
she had to fall back upon herself. She
was seventeen now. and the pomp, the
ceremony, the grandeur of her life
weighed upon her; she longed for some
of the old freedom-she would have
given anything to have roamed about
the magnificent grounds and park of
Oakcliffe, as she had roamed through
the gardens at install, unfettered and,
free. Here, If she went out, she must
take a servant-she must wear veil
q g. Al II y